Monday, December 3, 2012

Editorial

MR. Louis D'offay Seychelles Hoteliere Tourism Association Chairman

Welcome to yet another issue of the Seychelles Tourism Industry Newsletter!

We are coming out with this issue as our
industry looks sadly at a situation where a lack of concerted effort is
so apparent. We were all informed that Turkish Airlines intended to
start their Seychelles flights at the same time as they were launching
their operations into the Maldives. Why are we still dragging our feet
and letting the other tourism destinations of our region get the better
of us?

Turkish Airlines are now firmly established
with their Maldives schedule and we understand that they are set to
increase their frequencies. Their arrival has brought a review in
applicable tour operator fares to Maldives. A win win situation for
Maldives. But the question we are all asking is why is it taking so long
to develop a Bilateral Agreement with Turkey and thereby giving them
the necessary landing rights for an immediate start? Who is punishing
Seychelles and the Tourism Industry?

Paris and the need for a direct flight will
continue to be a stumbling block between the whole tourism trade and
the Minister responsible for Transport. Times are not easy and as we
follow the news of codeshare between Air France and Etihad we fail to
understand why Air Seychelles is not thinking of Seychelles just for
once. Abu Dhabi will remain the Hub for Etihad, but please make
Seychelles the base for Air Seychelles. Today we could be benefiting
from that Air France/Etihad cooperation because that cooperation could
channel our Air Seychelles passengers into Paris to board a direct
nonstop flight to Seychelles. Four flights to South Africa pushed the
industry at large to run to push the South African market and to
promote twin center in the Americas, especially in Brazil and Argentina.
Even Air Seychelles supported the Tourism Board’s David Germain in his
endeavours to promote Seychelles. Safari in South Africa and beach in
Seychelles, two countries in one holiday was taking off, but now S.A.
Tour Operators are telling us that the four flights announcement was
but an industry’s invention.

Minister Allain St Ange for Tourism & Mr Louis D'offay SHTA Chairman

The country is losing face. Brazil
Operators have programmed Seychelles, our local DMCs have all gone to
Brazil and Argentina at their own cost to be ready when the four
flights kick in. We feel our job is done, but where are the flights?
Minister Morgan is the Chairman of the Air Seychelles Board of
Directors and the Seychelles Government nominees on that Board are in
majority numbers and yet they are failing Seychelles. This is sad and
Hotels, Guest Houses, Hotel Staff, Tourism Academy Students, yes the
Trade in general should take note that the tourism industry is being
let down.

The Boat Operators meeting on Praslin raised
many shortfalls by two Ministries. Poor state of roads, unlicensed
boat operators, jetty management on Praslin & La Digue, thefts on
Praslin right in front of the Police Station anchor point, unfortunate
state of Curieuse island and its lunch serving area and corruption
with Marine Park entrance fees where illegal boat operators enjoy
special arrangements. The Ministry of Tourism has also been asked to
relook at operating modes between big consortiums and the small
individual operators and to work with the Transport Minister to get an
Inflight Magazine in the Domestic Air Seychelles flights and Tourism
Activity Boards at Domestic Terminals on Mahe & Praslin and Ferry
Terminals on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue to promote licensed tourism
operators on Praslin, La Digue and Mahe. It was noted by all the boat
operators present that it was disappointing that only one Minister
turned up for that Praslin meeting with the little people of Praslin.

Where have we reached in our plight to save
Praslin & La Digue Tourism? We all know that the cost for visitors
on our Domestic Air Seychelles and on the Ferry is today not helping,
but it is more a hindrance. The difference in applicable rates and the
rate for the 15minutes flight remains remedy against a visit to Praslin
at the detriment of Praslin and La Digue. The Tourism Board needs to
advertise the schooner rides and state their rates. Going back in time
seems the only recourse to consolidate our industry.

But all is not bad. Congratulations to
Michel Gardette and his Team at Fond Ferdinand. Your new Nature Reserve
was needed and everyone in the Industry will support and promote your
spectacular Coco de Mer park. With your stated applicable entrance fee
of Rupees 50 until end December and then Rupees 100 from January is
encouraging and it tells us that you have heard our plea to help keep
Seychelles more competitive. Such new natural attractions will also
help increase the yield of our country from its tourism industry. The
more attractions and activities we have for our visitors to spend their
holiday budget on, the better our country will be.

Minister Joel Morgan For Home Affairs & Transport

Planning Authority and the Tourism Industry
are heading in different directions. We hear of projects but we are
still not consulted. Today we see hotels being built on top of hotels
to make our very own Costa del Sol style of environment. No respect for
the country’s environment is today so apparent in so many new hotel
and self- catering establishments. Tiled walls on the road cannot suit
the charm and authenticity of La Digue for example. Foot print of new
establishments is a new vocabulary, but not applicable to everyone.
Unfortunately we see a destruction of what Seychelles stands for, taking
place under our very own eyes on a daily basis. We pray that the
practice that enabled the Cerf Island Jetty to be constructed is not
reappearing again.

Enjoy the read of your industry’s newsletter. Forward it on to friends, family and associates.

On behalf of the SHTA, I will also take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and festive Christmas!!

117 comments:

It is clear from the statements of Mr. D'offay that the Tourism Industry is still suffering from lack of cooperation between rulers of kingdoms to make it run well for all of Seychelles.

Air Seychelles is on an independent mission to increase Etihad market share in the region and Asia. Mr. Ball seems to careless what future Tourism in Seychelles has. This is a mistake in attitude and approach. Without Tourism succeeding, Air Seychelles cannot be viable. It must partner up in a serious way.

Minister Morgan in charge of transport could do much more to streamline his ministry to work with Tourism.

Tourism minister, needs to get more serious as well. Carnival is not a full year program. So many wasted trips and folly ideas in one year on tourism promotion is a waste.

Trips to Brazil, un programmed, St. Kitts useless, dream markets like South Korea and China bouncing in his head with more wasted trips and with that, wasted money and loss of time for Seychelles to get her house in order.

David Pierre sounds as if he is apologising for criticising the budget as "leader of opposition in the national assembly". His heart was not in it. SBC put a mic in front of him, they see him as part of the government.

Louis Doffay should let a younger and more innovative mind lead the way like Mr Payet of Le Duc. He has clearly lost touch with reality and for us in the hotel industry it is clear that he is looking after his own hotel interests only and not of the industry. Louis Doffay is too political and has been from his communist days when he terrorized us on Praslin as a militia. For those Seychellois who have worked for him will tell you that he is a dictator and thinks of himself only. He is the wrong man to represent us. Sorry Mr Louis letan gran blan in depase....

What is the big deal if Wavel had an affair with Gail T ?Just as normal as your mother screwing other married men like Mancham, Joubert and Rene whilst still married to Peter Gill.Just as well she did otherwise you would not be around to keep us entertained.This is not Gangam style but island style.How is sweetheart Jonny Le Gay?.

In spite of the various pronoucements made by the Minister of Finance, whereby the auditors have discovered illegitimate activities in our fiance, etc.. the new list of Internationa Corruption Index show that in Seychelles corruptions are getting worse. It is now ranked 52 in the world.. Can you believe this for a small country like ours, where the word "paradise" is frequently used to describe our islands? But the poorer people in our society suffer the most, through corruptions. What are we doing about that?

I work for air Seychelles for more then 12 years and I am sad to see how people like Louis Doffay are always attacking our airline and Kreol spirit. He never has a good thing todo and say about us. He also together with Other peoples says to bring more Arab airlines and this is why we no longer flying to London and Paris. Louis Doffay ase bez defas e aret fer politik avek mon lasyet manze. Ou dan byen azordi avek ou lotel etc... Pli gro SPPF ti ou memn. Ler ou fini renpli ou pos e ou GRA parey en gro koson la ou kraz sa ki reste. Bez aranz ou don.

Louis D'offay is not attacking Air Seychelles as the airline does not exist anymore.He is attacking Etihad for not having direct flights from Europe to the Seychelles.The creole spirit is dead,dead with debts a few months ago.Blame James Michel and your ex boss David Savy for the collapse of Air Seychelles and the tourism industry not Louis D'offay.

First off- there these losers go again, using my name to post a comment. One does not go lower then that in life. Of course, you can try to steal my shoes and fit it to your feet. Only the lowest human would steal the shoes of another person.

Is this what NYS and paid informant school produced for Seychelles?

On the matter of Air Seychelles.

The comment by Peggy to call the comment by Mr. D'offay to be an attack is wrong and highly polemic.

Air Seychelles is a key player in Seychelles, be it under Mr. David Savy or under Mr. Cramer Ball.

Under Mr. Ball it is basically Etihad. 49% plus full management and a number of leases from minority shareholder,basically make it a sell out. Wake up !

This argument on Creole spirit is pure rubbish. We are concerned with the bottom line of what Air Seychelles/Etihad does to pick up the Tourism Industry. This affects the bottom line of Seychelles as a country and the quality of life of every single Seychellois.

When you see Mr. Laporte scratching his head to make ends meet, it is because this single issue has not been handled and government has dropped the ball.

Instead of fixing the numbers, why do we not fix the problem that causes the low numbers?

Instead of switching plane brands from Boeing to Air Bus when Etihad has the largest order of Boeing 787 in the world, why did we not streamline what we had?

Instead of being reduced to a regional hub airline, why did Air Seychelles/Etihad not partner with the trade to make Air Seychelles the No.1 carrier of visitors in the region? It can be done and it is the only real way forward.

Flying to Hong Kong to help Etihad est a route under code share arrangements does not make us a regional No.1.

Passing blame on Mr. D'offay for commenting as a Trade leader is offensive and childish.

Our Party Leader is telling the truth the main reason is that they put these guys on welfare and make them pointless.

During the era of Albert Rene this dictator would, every birthday calendar of his give a raise to the social security of seychellois as a ploy everyone would look toward the birthday but not the 5th of june.

today no albert but we remain under james michel. James Michel would allow pensions and fat cat salary so that we would get total silence from those on the payroll such as ramkalawan and pierre.

What shocks me is that pierre thinks we are fools he claims he will not support the budget because it does not do just for the people of seychelles. Yet he knows that PL will eventualy approve this alongside he will be gifted more money for his collaboration to give credibility to a one party state assembly.

Note that it is confirmed that he is going to be holding a district party for this december and according to the one at mont fleuri the organizer and former bodyguard to ramkalawan is giving invites to people asking them to bring an extra ten persons so free drinks and food while the budget to cause more suffering is given credibility by david pierre fake opposition leader and spawned from the SNPL clan.

i salute and defend what you said, however i disagree with your comment. where were gill when ram was struggling during the opening of the multi-party? if HE was in his shoes HE would do the same thing.what were you doing le-douz-avriy-mil-nef-san-kat-re-ven-douz? i know it,but this is another story! until now good luck in your neuro program.

I will not be able to answer the question on behalf of Christopher Gill but i can assure you if i was of age or born during the time i would be dead.

It is said the Ramkalawan was an informant who sold out the people that wanted to press for freedom i believe it was called the MPR back then.

What i can tell you though is that during my days as a common man in seychelles as still i am today though politics makes one a public figure availed to scrutiny and critics i saw no change.

All i have seen is credibility being given over and over again while the people of seychelles put their beliefs in false policies advocated by fake oppositions at the peoples costs.

MR. Gill i say Christopher Gill has made history with the bold move of boycott and many more, i have been around many fake politicians or those who claims to be intellects yet what they say is and i quote " if we attack this or criticize that then we would taint Seychelles and when we take over their will be nothing left to govern, a perfect example is ralph volcere's piece on the money laundering issue where he agrees absolutely with pierre laporte. Reason has it he said so because this sector would go down if we expose it and people will lose money."

But i say Seychelles will never die nor will people be out of a job for long on the contrary i say we start over clean and accountable. If we are waiting for politicians that remains silent in fear of killing sectors though corrupted because people will lose jobs then we are not worthy to govern.

Air Seychelles is a perfect example. They only reacted when it was too late while gills column always was making us aware.

SFP will not destroy SFP will bring the broom and where there are many we will vacuum, we then will restock and rebuild with qualified and trained seychellois.

Again i'm not attacking your views and hope you will respect mine too. now show me or tell me a politician in the world who is not a liar or a thief.they all the same, they lied between their two front teeth, they will promise to build bridges even though there are no rivers and a bunch of shit! can you show the proof of the ram the informant and the mpr since you are sooo good of providing the evidence. in 2013 i think you should take over gill position cause he is doing more talking than action. (think about it)i can't wait to see you start the vacuum machine.

Monsieur Gill will you please stop attacking your opponents if they are against your political views. You are and look like a monster when you do that and if you don't stop you will blow up our new FIBER OPTIC CABLE and PAPA NOEL will not have time to fix it at that time.No wonder you don't want to let JPI to take over because he can do a better job then you.Remember Mickey passed away on the 9 th Dec. did you pray a little?

Just curious...do people choose a destination becasue of an airline or because of the destination? Do people say let us go to Maldives because Turkish flies there?

Basically the airline is not the determining factor. Although, it is an elemnet further down the ranking order, that effects how you get there, your duration and your final cost.

Travellers want the best price first of their totel holiday experience. Usually the main component is the groud portion at the destination.

Air Seychelles can double daily every day till the cows come home. If our costs passed on to the customer do not go down, who will bother searching for the wholly grail direct flight?

The only way Air Seychelles can even begin to lower its prices or get daily frequencies, it has to become competitive and lean. It appears to be doing that.

I suggest the local market does the same, by first understanding the basics of aviation strategy and commerce.

Also understand that Seychelles cannot live on its name alone. There are millions of beaches in the world, and there is a world outside our islands and minds where people are facing recession and economic meltdowns. Dont you think we should adapt?

Doffay and others like him need to make their organisations so attractive that because of demand, Air Seychelles , Etihad and all the other airlines have reasons to justify their extra frequencies or direct link.

By the way, with all the number of seats flying into Seychelles today, connecting from so many origins in the world, is more needed? Are they always full? Or is it because Air Seychelles doesnt fly direct that is why they are not full?

given the lack of full and verified information to be provided by the NDEA, we await a full disclosure of all material facts and await NDEA;

we note that NDEA as a practice sensationalizes busts and raises market values of seizures in the past. This is bad practice and we encourage NDEA to abandon this poor practice born out of lack of proper/sufficient education of its leadership to be handling such work;

it is also bad practice and not responsible nor is it professional to declare a arrest, but not name the persons implicated nor provide their pictures to the press at the time of arrest.

SFP hopes NDEA will sort itself out and conduct itself more professionally so the Public is not engaged in a guessing game until the evidence is lost at Police Central or NDEA office.

SFP maintains a zero tolerance on drug trafficking.

SFP trusts that the PL arrest all culprits in drug trafficking, which includes their own people, and not isolate drug busts to the opposition camp.

NDEA is reminded that the culture of drug importation was started by the very government it works for.

Cheers, who appears to be indeed pedalling snake oil has said the following in defence of the Air Seychelles new strategy advocated by Mr. Cramer Ball:

1. "travellers want the best price...the main component of which is the ground portion of the destination";

2. "Cheers', pedalling snake oil" cunningly ask us , " do people choose a destination because of an airline or because of a destination"; the implication of this statement by Cheers, as if, it is obvious truth, is that the airline is not at all a factor in choosing a destination.

Cheers' arguments are cunning indeed. But they are very false and self serving as well.

Here is the reason:

Holiday travellers Cheers, decide on a destination first. But that decision is not absolute as you seem to think in your mind. Most people pick a place to holiday as a first option, then they will have a second option and even a third option. They will look into the airline rates, frequency of flights, convenience of flight in relation to their holiday time for the year, and then they will decide on a hotel, once they have a flight they can afford in terms of time and money.

Without convenient flights at a reasonable price, in relation to market alternatives,holiday makers will opt to forgo a first choice, for a more convenient and realistic second choice. This is what has been happening since Air Seychelles pulled out of Europe. We have the statistic to prove that.

While there are many sun sea sand holidays in the world, we do know that Seychelles is the first choice in national beauty for an island. This means we are losing out to 2nd and 3rd choices because of poor flight arrangements.

The rates on the ground are irrelevant if potential visitors cannot get here in the first place, in a reasonable amount of time, and they do not have to lay over in some hub location for as much as 2-3 total days in a 14 day holiday.period.

The argument that Cheers advocates is to look inwards, improve your properties, drop prices, and more visitors will come. This is a red herring.

Why? Seychelles had the European market growing. Since Etihad stepped in, it has been contracting. So this red herring falls to the sands of our beaches.

Additionally as STB rightfully promotes, Seychelles has a varying levels of hotel services from self catering establishments to five star properties. So travellers are free to choose and bargain their way. The prices in Seychelles are no different today from any other island destination, in spite of the difficulties of doing business in Seychelles.In my view the hotel industry has done its part.

If Air Seychelles with new shareholder cannot be a real partner to Seychelles Tourism, it should reflect why it exists.

The ONE time when Izaaq the master photographer/filmmaker/journalist didn't show his face to record the suspects in handcuffs being escorted in court by NDEA!Where were you mon ami? Hiding somewhere you little toe rag?

This is one scope that was too big for little Izaaq to handle!

Till today we still haven't seen that video recording of Volcere as promised.

Mr. Mancham in his address to the conference in Mali apologised why the President of Seychelles did not attend the conference.One wonders, when did Mr. Mancham get appointed to represent us overseas. or anywhere else? Who appointed him? When and Why?We can guess why, ut surely that tells us something, does it not?

In any case it does not matter to a Swiss woman whether you are gay or not. They like a bit of bi!Tell us how she straps you with all that leather and dog collar after which she rams that you-know-what up your you-know-where then she brings her brother to join in!

Every creation of god have a end only you and this regime think there will be never end for his regime.i want to wish all loving Seselwa a merry christmas and a happy year.Piss ceja when am back,I 'm going there also not only for ski, to try and find the names of those VOLER who had made our coffer empty and have a account in Basel Switzerland.

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Freedom Loving Seychellois Welcome note

VICTORIA, MAHE, SEYCHELLES

A group of Seychellois dedicated to real democracy for our beloved Seychelles. Our goal is to free our country from the grips of the SPPF-Parti Lepep Government led by Albert Rene and James Michel, the two traitors who stole our country's freedom on that darkest day in our history - 5th June 1977. We will not rest until true democracy and freedom are returned to our shores. We want our fellow citizens to share information pertaining to crime and corruption by the members of this Government, past and present. This is a forum to do so and let us bring these criminals to justice. Post with words and images and let us take our country back. As Seychellois, we can no longer sit idly by and watch the corrupt SPPF-Lepep and their foreign conspirators destroy our country while they fill their foreign bank accounts. It is time for change, and we will do it peacefully at the ballot box starting in 2011. May God bless Seychelles and all freedom loving Seychellois.